About Us

Kalaheo Flowers has proudly served Kauai for over 50 years. We are the original and only Florist on Kauai that owns a farm right here in Kalaheo to produce its own flowers. This allows us to keep the cost down and provide customers more for the money and most fresh flowers possible. We provide floral arrangement for hotels, condos, vacation rentals, restaurants, offices, and individuals. Some of our work can be seen on the “Designs Section” of this website.

We offer delivery to many areas, including: Kapaa, Hanamaulu, Lihue, Puhi, Poipu, Koloa, Omao, Lawai, Eleele, Hanapepe, Kaumakani, Makaweli, Waimea, Kekaha, and of course Kalaheo. We also may be able to deliver to the Pacific Missile Range Facility (PMRF)—please call for details. We are committed to offering only the finest floral arrangements and gifts, backed by service that is friendly and prompt. Because all of our customers are important, our professional staff is dedicated to making your experience a pleasant one. That is why we always go the extra mile to make your floral gift perfect.

OUR HISTORY

HUMBLE ORIGINS

The family farm, the heart of Kalaheo Flowers, was purchased by Japanese immigrants Nisai and Omasa Kimura in 1930. First used as a parcel to grow fresh produce, they soon built their home there. They worked their living, raising three children and growing fresh fruits and vegetables that were taken by horse-and-buggy to sell in the “plantation camps”–residential areas set up by the sugar plantations to house the many immigrant workers who came toHawaii.

A NEW GENERATION

Their son, Norman, and his wife Yaeko, took over the farm after Norman returned home from WWII in 1945, having served in the highly decorated 442nd Regimental Combat Team. With two children in tow, over time, they expanded the produce business to flowers, and established “Kalaheo Nurseries” where Yaeko began learning flower arranging as one of the first florists on the Islandof Kauai. She recalls her friends laughing at her, saying, “No one buys flowers they grow them in their yard!”

The farm flourished as they added large productions of orchids, and roses, becoming known for these not only on Kauai but throughout the islands. Norman became known for the many varieties of grafted citrus trees he potted. Later, they planted groves of macadamia nut trees, and shipped nuts to Hawaiian Host to be made into chocolates. Meanwhile, they continued selling limes, bananas, grapefruits, and lychee in addition to everything else. The farm still produces all these, additionally, select specimens of avocado, pomelo, and tangerine. One can also find pineapple, oranges, starfruit, guava, papaya, mango, kumquat, lilikoi, and many other delicious fruits throughout. Visitors to the gardens enjoyed the wild jungle appeal as Norman would take them for tours on the immaculate grounds, which were dotted with meandering streams and a waterfall, not to mention several dozen wild chickens. Yaeko was known for her generosity as she often brought along a sack of extra persimmon or lychee on her flower deliveries. While the farm is no longer set up for tours, you will still sometimes find the delivery van carrying freshly harvested “bonuses” on its runs. The Kimura’s also set apart a portion of their land for raising Norfolk pine trees, the “Hawaiian Christmas trees”. Many a customer, seeing their children’s excitement looking at the trees, has fondly recalled themselves running around the farm as their parents brought them to choose a tree so many years ago.

21 CENTURY EXPANSION

Norman’s son, Mervyn and his wife, Carol, are the third generation to continue the Kimura legacy of working the farm. They renamed the business “Kalaheo Flowers and Gardens” when they took over after Hurricane Iwa in 1982. While raising their 4 children, they continued to manage the farm and flower shop in the same reassembled barrack that was used by troops stationed in the mountains above the farm during the war. Now, they have also added a convenient, storefront flower shop which is located in Kalaheo town right on the main street, Kaumuali’i Highway. There, visitors may browse through the charming flower and gift shop which has a select offering of unique gift items, collectables, potted plants, cards, balloons, décor, and more. Visitors can also find ready made bouquets, or talk to a designer right there and place their flower orders in person.
Over the past 75 years, this family-run labor of love has evolved into a thriving business—yet it is still as homegrown as it was way back when.